Spark-gap for radiotone wireless-telegraph systems.



E. J. SIMON.

SPARK'GAP POB. RADIOTONI. WIRELESS TELEGRAPH SYSTEMS.

` APPLICATION FILED HABA?, 1910. l 971,935, Patented 0013.4, 1910.

. UNITED sTArEs 'PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL J. SIMON, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE RADIO TELEPHONIE COMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, IN2-Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SPARK-GAP FOR RADIOTONE.WIRELESS-TELEGRAPH SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 4, 1910.

Application led March 17, 1910. Serial No. 549,974.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EMIL J. SIMON, a citizen of the United States, residing inthe city, county, and State of New York, have made a certain new and useful 'Invention in Spark Gaps for Radiotone Wireless Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing powerful electrical oscillations for use in the transmission of wireless signals. The object of the invention is to provide a simple and etiicient construction of spark gap for use in connection with Wireless apparatus of the nature referred to.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanyingl drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing F igure l is a view in diagram illustrating one arrangement of circuit connections with which a spark gap construction embodying the principles of my invention is well adapted for use. Fig. 2 is a View in elevation, parts broken out and in section, showing a construction of spark gap embodying the principles of my invention.

In the practical use of wireless apparatus, a system known as the singing spark method has recently been proposed wherein slowly damped waves are generated and radiated, which enable close tuning to be attained and difficulties resulting from interference to be eliminated, while at the saine time securing greater eliiciency over former methods in the radiated energy as compared with the energy'required in generating the waves.

In the singing spark method a great number of spark gaps are arranged in series with each other, and in the use of the apparatus the sparks are quickly quenched thereby resulting in the generation and radiation of powerful slowly damped waves which are heard in the receiving instrument as a high clear note.

In the practical useof apparatus of this nature there is a great tendency'of the sparks to concentrate at one point on the surface of one or another of the electrode plates or apparatus are produced which greatly impalr its usefulness and ehciency, causing derangement of the proper functioning of the apparatus, and necessitating frequent removals of the disks or plates in order to clean or polish anew the surfaces thereof. Even with the use of flat opposed surfaces of extended area such as are presented by plates or disks, these diiiculties are encountered and have been found to be a serious obstacle to the attainment of satisfactory practical results.

It has heretofore been proposed to obviate this source of trouble by interposing mica washers as insulators between the surfaces of adjacent plates. This expedient, however,has been found inefficient and unsuccessful for the reason that by the use of mica washers or rings it is impossible to secure air tightness, and the exclusion of air from the space between. adjacent electrode surfaces, in which space the spark occurs, is essential to success. The plates or disks are made of metal and the hard surfaces thereof cont-acting with the hard unyielding surfaces vof the mica rings or washers, fails to secure the degree of air-tightness which is essential.

In carrying` out my invention; and in order tovattain the practical and successful exclusion of air from the spark gap spaces, thereby excluding the oxygen constituent of the air from such spaces, I have found that thin washers, gaskets or rings of soft elastic, resilient material, capable of withstanding moderately high temperatures, interposed between the adjacent surfaces of the metal `plates or disks composing the spark gap,

enable me to attain most excellent results. Washers, gaskets or rings of rubber comypound will answer the requirement, and, when the metal disks or plates are maintained at a sutiiciently low temperature, the use of ordinary para rubber will sutlice.

The interposed Washers or gaskets must be of such nature as to insulate the metal plates or disks front-'each other, and also such as to resist the puncturing action of the 1 current employed to generate the sparks.

spark gap spaces,

Not only do the thin sheets or washers of rubber or rubber compounds answer these requirements but they are also yielding and resilient, and when the plates or disks are clamped tightly together with the washers or gaskets interposed therebetween, said washers or askets yield and compress suiciently to e ect an exclusion of air from the and hence the spark gap structure employing such`interposed gaskets or washers, can be used continuously without disturbing, orderly operation of the device or the proper functioning of the apparatus due to the tormation of protuberances, projections incrustations or pits in the surfaces oiz: the plates or disks, and the consequent concentration oi" the sparks at such points. ll am also thus enabled to maintain a quick quenching of the sparks which is necessary in order to obtain such a radiation of waves as will produce a clear musical note in the receiving apparatusf' l am also enabled to avoid the necessity for frequent' removals of the plates or disks to` clean or polish the surfaces thereof.

ln the accompanying drawing l have shown a constructiony and arrangement of spark gap embodying they principles of my invention, and wherein disks 4, superimposed or piled up upon each ane "40 when said disks are assembled. These interposed washers or gaskets also serve to insulate as well as to slightly oE-set the disks' fromeach other, thereby producing the air tifght spaces 9, between the opposed surfaces o adjacent disks. air tight spaces.

Metal disks to the number of twenty or thirty, more or less, havingl the construction and relation above described,- are ordinarily employed, and by the use of thin soft resilient gaskets, rings4 or washers, in accordance with my invention, I am enabled to attain a substantially air tight spark gap wherein a quick quenching of the sparks 1s secured, and concentration of the spark discharge at any particular pointin the surface of any disk is revented.

The isks may be assembled in any suityll`he sparks occur in thesev or deranging the proper andl the ."spark 'gap is 'shown as composed of a plurality of metall able manner. shown in Fig. 2, wherein the disksl 4, are piled upon each other with the thin vsoft resilient washers 8, inter osed therebetween, the disks being clampe between insulated heads 11, 12, mounted in a frame 13, supported on insulating legs 14. A screw 16, acting on one head serves to secure a tight 'clamping action of the disks upon each other. The leads 18, of the circuit connectipns are respectively connected to the heads i ,12.

`While my invention is shown and described as being employed in connection with a s ecic structure of metal electrode disk, an a speciic construction oit assemblage thereof, it is obvious that in its broadest scope, as defined in the claims, my invention is not to be limited or restricted to any speciic structure or manner ot assembling of `the disks.

ln VlTig. 1 l have shown a circuit arrangement in connection with which my invention l is adapted for use, and wherein A is a generator, in this case an alternating current enerator of 116s volts and 500 cycles, thong obviously, my invention is not to be limited or restricted in these respects. The circuit of the generator is shown coupled through the primary and secondary coils P. S. of a resonance transformer, to a circuit containing the spark gap, indicated at G, and which is shunted by a capacity C, and anninductance J,shown as variable.c rfliis oscillating circuit is shown coupled adjustably to a coil L1, in the antenna system, and which -system includes the antenna A1, the

adjustable loading'coil L2, the coil L1, 'and an ammeter A2.

While l have shown one arrangement of circuit connections and antenna system suitable for use in connection with a radiotone spark gap embodying the principles of my invention, I do not desire to be limited or restricted to the particular circuit arrangements shown, as many others may be equally well adapted for use 1n this connection. But

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and a construction and arrangement embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful, and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

' l. In an apparatus for producing powerful electrical oscillations, a plurality of electrodes having soft rubber gaskets interposed therebetween.

2. ln an apparatus for producing powerful electrical oscillations, a plurality of metal disks having thin soft rubber gaskets interposed therebetween to J'orm short airtight sparking spaces between the opposed surfaces thereof.

3. ln an a paratus for producing powerful electrica oscillations, a plurality of A simple arrangement is metal disks superimposed the one upon anber gaskets interposed between the bearing other, means for clamping said disks upon surfaces of adjacent disks.

each other, and soft rubber gaskets inter- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set posed between the opposed surfaces of adm hand in the presence of the subscribing jacent disks. wltnesses, 0n this 28th day of February 15 4. In an apparatus for producing power- A. D., 1910.

ful electrical oscillations, a pluraiity of EMIL J. SIMON. metal disks superimposed the one upon an- Witnesses: other, and havin bearing surfaces formed C. C. HUNICKE,

1C in the opposing aces thereof, and soft r'ub- S. E. DARBY. 

